Combined display container and smokers&#39; pipe rest



Sept. 18, 1962 G. s. TITTMANN 3,054,504

COMBINED DISPLAY CONTAINER AND SMOKERS PIPE REST Filed Aug. 11, 1960 70 x H 9 k FIG.5.

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George S. Titfman BYz United States Patent C) 3,054,504 COMBINED DISPLAY CONTAINER AND SMOKERS PIPE REST George S. Tittmann, 4 Gaines Ave., Greenlawn, N.Y., assignor to S. M. Frank & Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 48,867 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-44) This invention relates to display containers particularly adapted for containing and displaying smokers articles, such as pipes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a container which will hold and protect the pipe from dust, soiling and undue handling, while effectively and attractively displaying the pipe to possible purchasers.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in a container of this character, a combination end closure for the container and a pipe rest by which the closure, when removed from the container, can act as a support or rest for the pipe.

It is an object of the invention to provide a display container having its parts composed of inexpensive material, such as plastic, With such parts readily assembled to provide an inexpensive, thoroughly practical and attractive display container.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a sleeve or cylinder composed of transparent material and preferably but not necessarily, in ovate crosssectional shape, which sleeve or cylinder is closed at its opposite ends by flanged closure caps, the flange on at least one of the caps being provided with an extended portion having a notched end shaped to receive the stem portion of a pipe when the closure is detached from the sleeve and is employed as a pipe rest.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a display container constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the closure cap constructed to serve as a pipe rest;

FIG. 5 shows the cap acting as a pipe rest, and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the closure cap of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the cylindrical main portion or body of the display container. The same is preferably composed of relatively thin and flexible transparent material, such as a transparent plastic, permitting the pipe 2, or perhaps some other smokers article, contained within this tubular, sleeve-like body, to be clearly visible through it. The sleeve 1 is preferably, but not necessarily, of oval cross section and it is provided in its wall near its opposite ends, with vent openings 12 to facilitate the placement of the end caps on it.

The opposite ends of the body 1 are closed by the closure caps indicated respectively at 3 and 4. The closure cap shown at 3 includes a rectangular plate portion or base 5, and one face of which is provided a wall or flange 6 of oval form and of a shape and size en-I abling it to closely fit within one end of the transparent body 1. The cap 3 may thus be retained on the end of the body 1 in position to close said end, by the frictional fit of the flange 6 within the body, but it can, if

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desired, be adhesively or otherwise fixedly secured in place.

The closure cap shown at 4 is generally similar to that shown at 3, the cap 4 having a rectangular flat base portion 7 similar in size and shape to the base portion 5 on the cap 3. The cap 4 is formed with an oval flange 8, said flange snugly fitting within the second end of the body 1 and frictionally retaining its position as described in connection with the closure cap 3. Cap 4 is remova'bly fitted on the body 1 so that it can be detached and used as a pipe rest, as well be described.

Provided as an integral part of the flange 8 is a projecting element 9 constituting a finger, arcuately curved in transverse cross section. At its free end, the finger 9 is formed with a notch 10. This construction of the closure cap 4 is such that the cap, when fitted on the end of the body 1 serves as a closure for the body, but when the cap is removed from the body it can serve as a pipe rest. This is shown in FIG. 5 wherein it Will be seen that the cap 4 is rested on its base plate 7 on a flat supporting surface, such as a table or desk top, and the pipe 2, supported by the cap, has its bowl resting within the flange 8 and fitting in a notch 11 provided in the flange. The stem or stummel of the pipe fits in the notch 10 provided in the free end of the finger 9. The cap 4 thus not only serves as a closure for one end of the body 1, but is usuable as a pipe rest as well.

When both of the caps 3 and 4 are fitted on the body 1, the container presents the aspect of a closed, transparent sleeve through which the contained pipe 2 is completely visible for inspection by prospective purchasers. The pipe is fully protected from dust, dirt and handling. The rectangular shape of the plates 5 and 7 on the respective closure caps is such that the container will not roll when placed upon a fiat surface and it also facilitates the attachment of the container and its contents to a display panel or card.

All of the parts of the container can, if desired, be composed of plastic material so that the container can be inexpensively manufactured and delivered to the purchaser with the purchased pipe. The container is easily assembled, since a snug, frictional fit of the closure caps on the opposite ends is all that is required.

While it is herein suggested that the pipe-supporting finger 9 be provided on only one of the closure caps, it will be apparent that if desired, both of the closure caps may be provided with this feature.

Having thus described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A display container for pipes and similar articles comprising, a body consisting of a cylindrical, transparent sleeve, a closure cap fitted on each end of the sleeve, at least one of the closure caps having a flange conforming in shape to the interior shape of the sleeve, said flange being formed with an extended part forming a finger, the finger having a notch in its free end for receiving the stem of a pipe when the cap is used as a pipe rest.

2. A display container for pipes and similar articles comprising, a cylindrical tube of transparent material, said tube being ovate in transverse cross-sectional shape, closure caps fitted on the opposite ends of the tube, each closure cap having a rectangular base plate, a flange formed thereon and adapted to snugly flt within an end of the tube, the flange on one of the closure caps having a notched finger extension suitable for use as a pipe support when the cap on which it is provided is detached from the tube and is rested on its base plate.

3. A closure cap for a display container comprising, a rectangular base plate adapted to be rested on a flat sur r V v V 3 face, an annular notched flange on said base plate forming a rest for a pipe bowl, an extended finger on the flange, the finger having a notched free end for supporting the stern of a pipe, the flange being shaped to permit it to 'be fitted within the end of the body of a display container.

4. A closure cap as provided for in claim 3 ,wherein the finger is arcuately curved in cross section and is formed as an integral extension of the flange.

5. A display container comprising, a tubular, transparent sleeve having removable closure caps on its opposite ends, one of the caps having a flat base on which it can be rested, and flange shaped to fit parts of a pipe so that said cap can support a pipe when the cap is detached from the sleeve and rested on its base.

6. A display container for pipes and similar articles comprising, a body consisting of a cylindrical sleeve of a size to contain a pipe Within it, the body being closed at 4 one end by a removable cap, the cap having a flange forming an annular wall, said wall having an extension arcuately shaped in cross section, with the free end of such extension provided with a notch, the cap serving as a pipe rest when detached from the body and stood on end. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,754 Davis Nov. 10, 1936 2,079,177 Membrino May 4, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 96,536 Austria Apr. 10, 1924 444,859 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1936 880,571 France Mar. 27, 1942 1,067,726 France Jan. 27, 1954 

